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INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
UKREP LG HONG KONG
AND TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG, ATTC TAIPEI, TOKYO
På FAC pa
177651 MDHOAN 1963
31
FCO TELNO 187: FAC ENQUIRY INTO CHINA AND HONG KONG
1. THE FAC HAVE NOW DECIDED TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THEIR ENQUIRY INTO HONG KONG TO ENCOMPASS CHINA AND ALSO TAIWAN. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE THEY HAVE AGREED ARE QUOTE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UK AND CHINA IN THE PERIOD UP TO AND BEYOND 1997 UNQUOTE. THE REFERENCE TO 1997 MAKES IT EVIDENT THAT HONG KONG REMAINS ONE OF THE FOCAL POINTS FOR THE ENQUIRY. HOWEVER, THE CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE HAS TOLD US THAT THE MEMBERS ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN THE SOUTH CHINA ECONOMIC AREA, INCLUDING TAIWAN, AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE WILL BE FURTHER DEFINED IN DUE COURSE.
2.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE INTEND TO TRAVEL OUT TO THE REGION BETWEEN 12-22 OCTOBER. THEIR PRESENT PLAN IS TO TRAVEL TO PEKING AND GUANGDONG, THEN TO TAIWAN AND FINALLY HONG KONG. THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL ALSO CONSIDER VISITING SHANGHAI. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE COMMITTEE MAY SPLIT INTO TWO GROUPS FOR PART OF THE TRIP. THE COMMITTEE NO LONGER PLAN TO VISIT TOKYO.
3.
THE CLERK OF THE COMMITTEE HAS ASKED FOR INFORMATION ON FOUR SPECIFIC POINTS:
WHETHER THE TIMING OF THE VISIT IS INAPPROPRIATE OR CAUSES PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES.
WHETHER THERE ARE POTENTIAL DIFFICULTIES MAKING TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.
WHERE THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE ON THE WEEKEND OF 16/17 OCTOBER TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THEIR TIME.
4.
ANY OTHER GENERAL ADVICE OR WARNINGS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS ON THESE AND RELATED ISSUES ON WHICH WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS:
A)
TIMING. WHILE COMING IN AUTUMN, WHICH IS ALWAYS A BUSY
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